Dispenser



Nav. 15, 1949 D, G, ALLEN 2,488,254

DISPENSER Filed Dec. 30, 1947 fig.

BY WWW MW Patented Nov. 15,U 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSER Duncan G. Allen, Houston, Tex.

Application December 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,683

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in dispensers, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, such as may be conveniently and effectively employed as a dispensing container for sugar, salt, and other substances in granulated or powder form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser from which the contents may be quickly and easily withdrawn and which may be refilled with equal expediency.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is simple in construction, pleasing in appearance, and which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which it is used.

With the above more important objects in View and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the construction and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the invention Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View, taken substantially in the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a dispenser designated generally by the reference character I0, the same embodying in its construction a substantially cylindrical receptacle II disposed in a vertical position and provided at the upper end thereof with a removable cover I2.

The marginal edge portion of this cover is either corrugated or screw threaded as at I3 to engage a correspondingly coni'lgurated portion Ill formed at the upper end of the receptacle Il, whereby the cover is removably retained in position on the receptacle, as will be clearly understood.

The lower end portion of the receptacle I I is restricted to provide what may be referred to as a common discharge and refill opening I5, this opening merging at its inner end into a frustoconical discharge throat portion I6 of the receptacle, while the outer end of the opening I merges into a frusto-conical refilling throat I1.

A vertically disposed, tubular sleeve I8 is secured at the upper end thereof to the inner surface of the aforementioned cover I2, the lower end of the sleeve being open and the cover I2 being formed with a central aperture I3 to slidably accommodate a plunger rod 2). This rod is disposed axially in the receptacle II, the upper end portion of the rod projecting above the cover I2 and being provided with a convenient hand knob 2l A closure member 22 is secured or provided integrally with the lower end of the rod 20, and a tubular spring retainer 23 is mounted on the midportion of the rod 20 as will be presently described.

The retainer 23 is provided at its lower end with a closed end wall 24 secured to the rod 20, while the upper end of the retainer is open. Moreover, the retainer 23 is slidably telescoped into the aforementioned sleeve I8, and a spring 25 is secured at one end thereof to the end wall 24 of the retainer 23 while the remaining end of the spring is similarly secured to the cover I2.

When the invention is placed in use, the contents of the receptacle II may be dispensed by simply pressing the knob 2l downwardly in the direction of the arrow 26, so as to project the closure member 22 through the opening I5 to a position shown by the phantom lines 2l. In this manner, the contents of the receptacle II will be caused to gravitate along the downwardly convergent surfaces of the frusto-conical throat IB and then through the opening I5, as will be clearly apparent.

It is to be noted that as the member 22 is projected to its discharge position shown at 2l, the spring 25 will become stretched, and when subsequently, downward pressure upon the knob 2I is relaxed, the spring 25 will automatically return the member 22 to its normal position within the opening I5. While in this normal position, the opening I5 is closed by the member 22, and discharge of the contents of the receptacle II is prevented.

When it is desired to rell the receptacle II, this may be accomplished by simply inverting the entire dispenser and pulling the knob in the direction of the arrow 28. Under such circumstances, the member 22 will be retracted into the receptacle to a position indicated at 29, whereupon material may be poured, so to speak, into the receptacle through the opening I5. This pouring action will, of course, be facilitated by the provision of the frusto-conical throat I l, which will function in the manner of a funnel.

It may be added that the primary purpose of 3 the sleeve I8 and retainer 23 is to provide a cover, so to speak, for the spring 25, so that the spring does not come into direct contact with the contents of the receptacle.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary. Y

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

A dispenser comprising in combination, an upright receptacle having a cover at the upper end thereof, the lower end of said receptacle being provided with a common discharge and rell opening, a tubular sleeve provided in said receptacle and secured to said cover, an externally manipulable plunger rod slidable in said receptacle and extending through said sleeve, a tubular spring retainer secured to said rod in telescoped relation to said sleeve, a spring attached 4 at one end to said cover and at its remaining end to said retainer, and a closure member secured to said rod, said member normally closing said opening and being selectively projectable and retractable therethrough.

DUNCAN G. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED Ther following references' are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,002 Weber et al Dec. 5, 1876 574,156 Lippincott Dec. 29, 1896 1,222,245 l Schfinoller Apr. 10, 1917 1,295,665 Younger Feb. 25, 1919 1,303,141 Younger May 6, 1919 1,423,322 Haeseler July 18, 1922 1,491,529 Haeseler Apr. 22, 1924 1,547,953 Palmer July 28, 1925 1,558,275 Peterson et al Oct. 20, 1925 1,638,456 Pike Aug. 9, 1927 1,651,731 Schatz Dec. 6, 1927 1,696,732 Pasnik Jan. 15, 1929 2,123,666 Latocha July 12, 1938 2,284,720 Binon June 2, 1942 

